High school senior prepares for fatherhood

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kenny White is like any other 18-year-old teenager. He is finishing his senior year at Herbert Hoover High School, working at Burger King and part time in the school cafeteria and has been in a relationship with his girlfriend, Carly Romine, for more than nine months.

Soon, though, things will be a little less normal for him. He and Romine have a baby girl on the way.

"I was excited when I found out we were going to be having a baby," White said.

"We're going to name her Isabella Dawn," he added. "She's due in May, just around the time I graduate from high school."

Teen fathers are often overlooked when talking about teen pregnancy, but statistically speaking, 1 out of every 15 males in the U.S. will become a teen father. Unfortunately, in most relationships, teenage parents don't stay together. Eight out of 10 teen fathers do not marry their baby's mother.

That's not the case for White and Romine, though, who were planning on marriage even before they knew about the pregnancy.

"Mine and Carly's relationship has gotten even better with our baby on the way!" White said ecstatically. "We've even gotten married."

Their wedding took place on Dec. 30 at their home. "Carly even took my last name."

"As for support, I also have my friends' and family's support with both our baby and our marriage," White stated.

Teen fathers are more likely to drop out of school, not go to college or be unprepared to enter the workforce, but White plans to take full responsibility to provide for his new wife and his baby girl on the way.

"I plan on graduating high school this year with my class," he said. "However, I'm not sure about college with my daughter on the way."